Features

Match Report

Posted
Tue 28 Oct 14
at 15:39 PM

Tranmere won through to round two of the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers at Prenton Park. A 54th minute Max Power penalty was enough to secure the win, although George Donnelly was sent off ten minutes later.
Micky Adams made four changes to the Tranmere starting line-up which began last Saturday's 2-2 draw against Stevenage.
Into the team came Liam Ridehalgh, George Donnelly, Eliot Richards and Josh Thompson with Danny Holmes, Kayode Odejayi and Danny Johnson dropping down to the bench. Armand Gnanduillet was missing after parent club Chesterfield denied permission for the striker to play.
For Bristol Rovers, former Tranmere defender Mark McChrystal and striker Ryan Brunt, who had a loan spell with Tranmere, were both included in the starting line-up.
The opening chances of the game both came from distance from Eliot Richards. The Tranmere forward, playing against his former club, tried his luck from 25 yards with the first attempt going harmlessly wide while the second was deflected into Steve Mildenhall's hands in the Bristol Rovers goal.
On 19 minutes, the Pirates had their first shot on goal. Brunt picked the ball up 25 yards out and hit a low, powerful left-footed strike which Owain fon Williams saved low to his left.
The Welsh goalkeeper was brought into action again just after the half-hour mark. Jake Gosling laid the ball to Matty Taylor whose first time effort was dealt with by fon Williams.
A minute later, Richards tested Mildenhall with a powerful left-footed shot from 20 yards which the Bristol Rovers 'keeper palmed out.
George Donnelly and Richards linked up on 35 minutes with the former playing the latter in down the right and from the edge of the box, Richards again forced Mildenhall to make a save low down to his right.
On 43 minutes, Bristol Rovers went close with an effort from just outside the penalty area from Lee Mansell which looped up onto the roof of fon Williams' net.
In the first minute of first half stoppage time, a deep cross from the right by Janoi Donacien found Max Power at the back post but the midfielder's header only found the hands of Mildenhall in what was the final act of the opening 45 minutes.
In the opening action of the second half, Bristol Rovers' winger Dave Martin was played into the clear down the left but his effort on goal was blocked by a sliding Donacien.
On 52 minutes, Power played a ball down the right channel which Donnelly raced onto and hit a half volley which Mildenhall palmed wide for a corner.
From the resultant set piece, Tranmere were awarded a penalty for handball inside the penalty area by Mark McChrystal. Power stepped up and fired home from 12 yards, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
On the hour mark, a left-footed shot from distance by Martin deflected narrowly past fon Williams's goal.
On 62 minutes, Tranmere were reduced to 10 men with Donnelly being given a red card for kicking out off the ball at Tom Lockyer.
Two minutes later, Tranmere made their first change of personnel with Kayode Odejayi coming on to replace Richards up front.
On 77 minutes, Bristol Rovers substitute Ellis Harrison hit a low effort from the edge of the penalty area which fon Williams did well to save low to his right.
In the final minute of injury time, Bristol Rovers won a corner which was half cleared and Harrison fired the ball goalwards only for Marc Laird to make a clearance off the line to ensure Tranmere's name goes into the hat for round two.